"The exercise is intended to enhance mutual capabilities, improve tactical proficiency and strengthen partnerships" among the allies, a US Navy press release said.

Asked about the drills, Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari (seen below) told the Mehr news agency on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic would not allow anybody to encroach on its territorial waters, which he described as the country’s "red line."

Touching on the simulation of hitting Iranian targets, Sayyari said that Iran "does not care about who’s doing what," adding, “For us, it is important to boost our defense capabilities to such a level that we can withstand any threats [posed against us from] anywhere," he added.

The Iranian commander also noted that any exercises in high seas should comply with international law.

The Unified Trident drills come after a string of incidents, in which US vessels that sailed close to Iranian territorial waters were met with Iran's befitting response.

Iran has repeatedly warned that any act of transgression into Iran's territorial waters would be met with an immediate and befitting response.

In January last year, Iran's Navy arrested the crews of two US patrol boats that had trespassed on Iranian territorial waters. Iran released them after establishing that they had done so by mistake.

Iran has invariably asserted that it only uses its naval might for defensive purposes and to send across the Islamic Republic’s message of peace and security to other nations.